Electrotherapeutical apparatus



' H. M. SHEEKS AND F. W. STEIN.

ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 23. 1917.

Haeace 01.67155/(5 Fez-:0 W. STE'l/Y Patented Aug. 26

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE ML SHEEKS AND FRED W. STEIN, OF ATC I-IISON, KANSAS.

ELECTBOTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS.

Application'filed March 23, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HORACE M. SHEEKS and FRED W. STEIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Atchison, in the county of Atchison and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrotherapeutical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electro-therapeutical apparatus for producin electrical currents which are particularly eneficial in the treatment of diseases due to the lack of blood circulation and insufficient nerve.stimulation.

To this end the invention contemplates a novel and improved electrical translating instrument from which a mild low voltage, low amperage and true sinusoidal current can be obtained for the purposes a'bove referred to, and which may be conveniently handled and used in a. thoroughly safe and effective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device Which may be readily used in connection with a conventional lamp socket of a house lighting circuit, without removing the shade or globe, where one is used, or in any way altering the wiring connections or other parts of the fixture. In this connection, the invention aims to provide a device which may be quickly made ready for use and likewise removed and stored away, and which when in service permits of the usual incandescent lamp being used for lighting purposes, thereby not depriving the patient of a light when only one lamp socket is available from which to tap the current.

A further object .of the invention is to provide a device which is susceptible of a neat and attractive embodiment, and of' a more or lessornamental appearance, thereby materially enhancing its commercial aspect. In this latter connection it is proposed to provide a device which is strong and durable in construction, and reliable and positive in action, and therefore of maximum service and efliciency. Furthermore, the invention also proposes to provide substantial means for connecting the applicator cords therewith, whereby interruption in the flow of the applied current is eliminated.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Serial No, 157,013.

' partly in elevation, and taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 55'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing the electrical circuits.

Similar references designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect, it is proposed, as previously pointed out, to provide a device which is substantial and durable, and not susceptible of becoming readily broken or damaged through the usual handling, thereby rendering it always ready for service by the simple act of screwing the same into a conventional lamp socket. As will be observed from Fig. 1, the present device is designated generally as D, and is For the purpose of utilizing the benefit of the electrical current passing through the device D, the same'is referably provided with suitable means, which will hereinafter be more fully referred to, for coupling thereto the applicator cords C. These cords may be of any desired length, and are preferably provided at each end with the coil-spring attaching members E, for respectively connecting with a part of the device D and the hand grips H, or their equivalent. In this latter connection, it will of course be understood that in place of the hand grips H, there may be utilized other body contact devices well known to the art.

Referring now more particularly to the novel construction of the device D, it will be observed that the same includes in its organization a porcelain body block or core 1, having at one end thereof a screw lug contact,

provided With socket terminals, while the other end thereof is provided with a lamp receptacle having suitable lamp terminals. The said body block 1 is preferably provided with a central opening or bore 2 which extends throughout the length thereof, while one end is formed with an offset spacing flange or collar 3 having a wire receiving notch or groove 4, and the opposite end thereof is suitably finished as indicated at 5.

Carried by the end of the block 1, having the flange 3, is a screw contact plug which preferably comprises a porcelain plug body 6 having secured thereto a metallic coupling ring 7 provided with a flange8 for telescopically receiving the collar portion 3 of the porcelain body. Between the flange 8 and the periphery ofthe collar 3 is preferably provided a ring of insulation 9 which serves to improve the fit between the porcelain body and the coupling ring, and to also protect the said ring from being short-circuited by contact with the wire which passes through'the groove 4, and which will hereinafter be more fully referred to. The pin body 6 is further provided with a threaded shell member 10 for engaging with the screw shell contact of the socket, and is also provided with the center plug contact member 11, which is insulated from the screw shell by the block of insulation 12. The opposite end of the body block 1 has fitted thereto a screw shell contact member 13 which constitutes one of the terminals for an electrio lamp, and as will be observed from the drawing this screw shell contact is held to the porcelain body 1 by means of a relatively long conductor screw 14, the same, however, not bein in electrical contact with the shell, but insu ated therefrom by means of the insulating plate 15.

This conductor screw 14 performs the dual function of providing the center plug contact for the screw plug at one end of the body and the center plug contact 16 for the lamp receptacle at the other end of the body, while at the same time holding all of the plug and lamp receptacle parts in their assembled relation. That is to say, the conductor screw 14 clamps the insulating cap 12 and plug body 6' against the flanged end' of the porcelain body 1, and extends through the opening 2 of the latter to hold the screw shell contact 13 to the other end thereof with the aid of the insulating plate 12.

Referring further to the plug body 6, it will be observed that the same preferably has an interior chamber A, which is in communication with a wire passage 65 extending at an angle through the side wall of the body, while the edge of the plug body is provided with a suitable wire receiving notch 6", which communicates with the notch 4 in the collar 3 to providefor receiving the electrical connection 17 which completes the circuit connections betweefi the screw plug and lamp receptacle and constitutes a resistance in the lamp circuit. This electrical connection 17 is preferably a German silver wire of suitable gage having one end connected to the interior of the screw shell 10 of the plug portion of the device, and extending through the open ing 6, chamber A, notch 6 and notch 4 to the exterior of the hollow porcelain body block 1, where it is coiled thereabout, as shown in the drawings. It will of course be understood that this wire is not insulated, and is wound around the exterior of the body block 1 in the direction of the lamp receptacle, and is connected with the latter as indicated at 18. Accordingly, it will be apparent that the electric current, in passing through the device D, will follow the conductor 14, which forms the center contact of both the plug body and lamp receptacle, through the electric lamp to the screw shell contact 13 of the lamp receptacle, thence through portion 18 of the coiled wire 17, back to the screw shell portion 10 of the block.-

In connection with the lamp receptacle portion of the device, it will be observed that in addition to the screw shell contact member 13, the same preferably includes an insulating sleeve 19, which serves to completely insulate the screw shell contact which constitutes one of the lamp terminals from a metallic casing member 20, which forms the entire exterior of the device and telescopes over the outer periphery of the metallic flange 8 of the coupling ring 7 carried by the plug body, space between the exterior of the porcelain body block 1 and its interior surface, clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As will be seen from Fig. 3, the metallic casing 20 carries a cord terminal 21 which is in metallic contact therewith, and also carries at a diametrically opposite point another cord terminal 22, which is insulated therefrom. That is to say, the cord terminal 22, while carried by the casing 20 is insulated there from by the washer 23 and bushing 23*, and extends into metallic contact with the screw shell member 13 of the lamp receptacle. These cord terminals 21 and 22 are preferably in the form of projecting studs which are rigidly carried by the casing, thereby constituting a rigid point of contact for the coiled ends E of the applicator cords.

thus providing a The said casing 20 which is spaced from troller deviceslides to vary the amount of current supplied to the applicator cord terminals 2 and 22. This shiftable controller member Q4 preferably comprlses a metallic shank portion 26, having its side portions notched to straddle the edges of the slot or guideway 25, and carries at one end a spring pressed contact ball 27, which establishes a metallic contact between the casing 20 and the resistance coil 17 while the other end thereof is provided with an insulated button 28, which may be manipulated by the finger of the operator to change the position of the controller in the slot, and thereby shift the ball 27 to difierent points along the resistance coil 17.

Referring now to Fig. 6, which shows a diagram of the electrical circuits, it will be apparent that the main circuit passes through the center contact 11 of the plug assembly, thence through the conductor .screw 14: to the center contact 16 of the lamp receptacle, thence through the filament F of the lamp L to the screw shell contact 13, and from there through the wire 18 to the resistance coil 17, and thence to the screw shell member 10 of the plug. The shunt circuit passes from the screw shell contact member 13 to the cord terminal 22, and thence to one of the cords G of the applicator circuit to one of the applicator handles or their equivalent, thence through the patients body to the other applicator handle or its equivalent, and thence through the applicator cord 16 and cord terminal 21 to the metallic casing 20. From the metallic casing 20, the shunt circuit passes through the metallic shank 26 of the shiftable controller member to the ball 27 which slides over the resistance coil 17.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that the present device provides for two complete circuits, namely, a lighting circuit, and a shunt vibrator circuit, which is utilized in the treatment of the patient. It will of course be understood that the strength of the shunt circuit can be varied at will by moving the controller button 28 from one end of the slot to the other. Thus, there is provided a variable shunt circuit which is entirely within the control of the operator, according to the treatment required.

From the foregoing it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, pro-portion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electro-therapeutical device including an insulating body carrying at one end a receptacle element and at its opposite end a plug element, a single tie screw connecting said several elements and forming the center plug contact therefor, a metall c casing, applicator cord terminals in circuit with the casing and receptacle element, a resistance in circuit with the receptacle element and having sufiicient impedance to give a considerable voltage drop, and a contact element shiftable over said resistance and electrically connected'with the metallic casing.

2. An electro -therapeutical device including an insulating body block, a screw shell receptacle arranged at one end of the block, a plug support arranged at the opposite end of the body, a plug contact arranged on' the plug support, a tie screw extendmg through the body block and having its opposite ends disposed respectively within the receptacle element and outside of the plug element to constitute the center plug contacts for both of said elements, a metallic casing, applicator cord terminals respectively connected with the receptacle element and the metal casing, a conductor coiled about the insulating body block and having suflicient resistance to give a considerable voltage drop, said conductor connecting with the screw shell and plug contacts of the device, and a shiftable contact element engaging said casing and said resistance-conductor.

3. An electro-therapeutical device havin socket terminals at one end, lamp terminals at the other end, an electrical connection therebetween including a conductor having suflicient resistance to give a considerable voltage drop, and means for tapping off a shunt circuit from the main circuit including a metallic casing, a shiftable contact between the resistance-conductor of the main circuit and the casing, and applicator cord terminal posts carried by the casing, one of said posts being in electrical contact therewith, and the other insulated therefrom and electrically connected with one of the lamp terminals.

4. An electro-therapeutical device including an insulating body block, a main circuit including a screw plug contact at one end of said block, a lamp receptacle at the other end, a lamp therein, an electrical resistance-conductorbetween said plug contact and lamp receptacle adapted to give a said body block and having side and end contacts, a lamp receptacle at the other end and including a screw shell and a center contact, a lamp in said receptacle, a combined conductor and tie element connected withthe said center contact and the end contact of the plug, a resistance conductor carried by the insulating body block and having suflicient resistance to give a considerable voltage drop and connected with the screw shell and side contact of the plug, and a shunt circuit including a metallic casing member carried by the insulating body block and insulated from said screw shell, and a shiftable contact for electrically connecting the resistance-conductor and the metallic shell to control the variation of voltage in said shunt circuit.

6. An electro-therapeutical device cludin an insulating body block having a central opening, a screw plug carrying socket terminals at one end of said body, a receptacle having lamp terminals at the other end of said body, a metallic part for holding the plug and receptacle in assembled relation to the body and connecting the center terminals of both the plug and receptacle, a resistance coil wound around the exterior of said body and connecting the screw shell terminals of both the plug and receptacle, a metallic casing surrounding the insulating bod block and lamp receptacle and insulated rom the latter, a, cord terminal rigidly and electrically connected with the metallic casing, another cord terminal carried by the casing but insulated therefrom and electrically connected with one of the lamp terminals, and a shiftable controller button for closing a shunt circuit between the resistance coil and metallic casing.-

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our slgnatures in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE M. SHEEKS. FRED W. STEIN. Witnesses:

W. D. CASEY, Rosn HARAUFF. 

